As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.

From my research, the greater majority of couples were married at their local church; however, these marriage was not recognized by the government until after 1929.

Did the most of the newly married couples then get married at the local town hall to have a recorded legal marriage?

I have read a number of books on Italian genealogy records and have not found a detailed explanation how the civil records were generated . Although the books I have read, e,g. , A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Italian Ancestors, did a good job of describing the overall process, many areas are not described in detail.

For example, when the couple completed the promise-to-marry document, where was this document completed--at the town-hall or the local church? Who had to be present to complete this form--just the couple or the couple and their parents ? What documents did they have to present to the official?

"For example, when the couple completed the promise-to-marry document, where was this document completed--at the town-hall or the local church? Who had to be present to complete this form--just the couple or the couple and their parents ? What documents did they have to present to the official?"

you get two different documents - one from the church and another "official" from the civil office after marriage. also the "promise-to-marry- document" - how you named it - are stated both at the time before marriage at church AND town-hall. the one has nothing to do with the other andand each is for itself. but you also can marry only at church or civil. if you marry only at church you are official NOT married. this is usual in most of the european states.also usual for first going to the civil office and then to the church.